Why Is It Safest to Be in a Car During a Thunderstorm?

[VanAndres]

Being in a car during a thunderstorm is safest mainly due to the following reasons: 1. The car body acts as an equipotential surface: The metal shell of the car forms an equipotential surface, meaning the electric potential of the people inside and the car itself is roughly equal. When lightning strikes, no current is conducted to the people inside the car, making it safe to be in the car during a thunderstorm. 2. The car's tires provide insulation: It is an undeniable fact that cars are made of metal, but their enclosed structure turns them into a "Faraday cage." The wet tires serve as the key component connecting the car body to the ground for electrical conduction. Even if the car is struck by lightning, the current can pass through the car's outer shell and tires to the ground, without causing harm to the people inside.